Some 76 young Ghanaians have been rescued from Nigeria after falling prey to a deceptive recruitment scheme promising lucrative football contracts abroad. According to Ghanaian police, these individuals were lured with misleading promises of job placements, only to find themselves stripped of their travel documents and mobile phones upon arrival in Nigeria.
Victims reported being housed in cramped, substandard accommodations where basic necessities were lacking. Under duress, many were forced to reach out to their families, soliciting around $1,000 to pay purported training fees. Alarmingly, traffickers exploited the victims' phone contacts to extort money from family and friends in Ghana.
The operation, which spanned from May 19 to June 27 this year, was executed in partnership with Nigerian law enforcement and Interpol. Seven suspects from Ghana have been arrested as part of the investigation, which highlights the pervasive issue of trafficking and fraud plaguing the region.
Lydia Yaako Donkor, head of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), emphasized the importance of families thoroughly vetting job offers and educational opportunities abroad. She shed light on the grim realities many victims face after being deceived—often finding themselves in “holding camps” where detainment under inhumane conditions is the norm.
The psychological and physical toll inflicted upon these individuals can be profound, with many reportedly suffering from malnutrition and long-lasting emotional distress. The CID's announcement also raised alarms about QNET, a marketing firm reportedly involved in the scam, which has faced scrutiny and was banned from operating in Ghana in 2022 for its alleged fraudulent activities—claims the company denies.
The police have pledged to continue their efforts to dismantle such trafficking rings and protect vulnerable populations from the lure of false promises that often lead to devastating outcomes in both Ghana and Nigeria.
